Unique, fun holiday celebrations for book groups.New picks, purses, and passions. Even a coupon, so you can give every member of your group a copy of Reading Group Choices. All in the December issue of the Reading Group Choices Newsletter.

Does your reading group have New Year's resolutions? Here are some "resolutions" some reading groups have listed.

*Make group donation to a literacy charity

*Make a list of already-read books to be updated

*Be respectful of others' opinions

*Be responsible - RSVP to invitations for book club events

*Be adventurous and receptive to new genres

A new year is a great time to clean house and reflect on your group's goals. Let us know if your group has New Year's resolutions. Or, if your group doesn't have a resolution list - would you want one, and what would you want to be on the list? Please start the conversation on Reading Group Choices Facebook Page and maybe even win a Box o' Books!

Reading Group Choices has some bookmarks listing five general guidelines for respectful but lively book discussions. Please write to us if you would like some to gently remind your members of group etiquette. Or enter for a chance to win a free package of eight copies of Reading Group Choices 2011!

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi Durrow is a thoughtful, searing and heart-wrenching portrait of a young biracial girl dealing with society's ideas of race and class. The debut novel is the winner of the 2008 Bellwether Prize for best fiction manuscript addressing issues of social justice. Forced to move to a new city, with her strict African American grandmother as her guardian, Rachel is thrust for the first time into a mostly black community, where her light brown skin, blue eyes, and beauty bring a constant stream of attention her way. Barbara Kingsolving writes, "Out of the clear blue, here is a breathless telling of a tale we've never heard before. Haunting and lovely, pitch-perfect, this book could not be more timely."

Helen Simonson's debut novel, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, is a love story. In the small village of Edgecombe St. Mary in the English countryside lives Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired) and Mrs. Jasmina Ali, the Pakistani shopkeeper. Major Pettigrew brother's death sparks an unexpected friendship between the two. The Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship blossoming into something more. But village society insists on embracing him as the quintessential local and regarding her as the permanent foreigner. Can their relationship survive the risks one takes when pursuing happiness in the face of culture and tradition? The New York Times writes, "Funny, barbed, delightfully winsome storytelling . . . As with the polished work of Alexander McCall Smith, there is never a dull moment. . . . It's all about intelligence, heart, dignity and backbone. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand has them all."

Weddings: Royal & Otherwise

Speaking of a love story, everyone is a buzz about Kate Middleton's and Prince William's engagement. The Guardian has quiz about weddings in literature. Grab a cuppa and test yourself!

Book Purses & Other Fashion Musts

Now you can show your passion for books and fashion when stepping out this holiday season. Kate Spade has designed three book purses -- The Great Gatsby, Great Expectations, and The Importance of Being Earnest. Each little "book" is lined with jazzy striped lining and made of laminated silk twill. And the author of The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde, is on Flavorwire'sbest dressed authorslist.

You can wear your Great Gatsby clutch when attending the new adaptation of The Great Gatsby in 2012. The cast includes Carey Mulligan as Daisy, Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby, and Tobey Maguire is expected to play his friend, Nick Carraway.

Movies That IMPROVE the Book!

Holidays are a great time to watch movies. Pop the corn, and heat up the cocoa. Are there any movies that were better than the book? Fifteen movies are featured in the The Huffington Post that they consider better than the book.

What do you say? Read the article and let other reading groups know on the Reading Group Choices Face Book Page. (There are two December Facebook questions - "resolutions" and "movies" - to help you win a Box o' Books for the New Year!)

Your Own Discussible Choices

Congratulations to Sherry and The Tome Divasfor winning the random drawing for this month's Discussible Book Choice!

"Our group LOVED The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart for its humor, romance, and insights into the Tower of London. Our group has been together for 6 years, and this is one of our favorites by far!"

Sherry, The Tome Divas, Alton, IL

We enjoy hearing from book club members and sharing their choices with everyone. Please let us know about your group's discussible choices - you may win a book-related prize for every member of your reading group!

Ten of the best angels in literature are featured by The Guardian. Be an angel - share your joy of reading this holiday.

Happy holidays!

Reading Group Choices 2011 Has Arrived!

The print edition, Reading Group Choices 2011: Selections for Lively Book Discussions, is now available! This is our 17th annual print edition, which once again includes reading recommendations of some of the publication industry's best authors. Reading Group Choices 2011 includes over 65 new titles for recommended reading and book group discussion. Titles by such reading group favorite authors as Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Syrie James, Barbara Kingsolver, Laura Lippman, Alexander McCall Smith, Anchee Min, and Ann Hood, as well as work from debut authors have been selected for inclusion. The guide also includes valuable resources available to reading groups and book clubs all over the world.

To order copies of Reading Group Choices 2011 - or other annual editions from 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, and 2004 - visit the store, email us, or call us toll-free at 1-866-643-6883.

Thanks to all of you who told us about your group's holiday plans. You presented many unique ideas for fun, book-centric celebrations! A few of them are listed below and there are more of your ideas on the website.

And congratulations to Judy and The North Haven Teacher Retirees Book Club for winning a box o' books! That should fatten their grab bag!

"No reading in December; just a brunch. Each member brings a wrapped book from Reading Group Choices 2010. We have a grab bag, so each member gets a book they haven't read before from the selections in 2010. (If they have already read it, they just swap with someone! We are easy to get along with!!) We also bring a children's book, wrapped, and someone delivers them to the local firemen for holiday toy distribution day!!"

Judy, The North Haven Teacher Retirees Book Club, Wallingford, CT

"We are meeting at my home in a comfortable manner - Pj style...Yes, we are going to be lying around in our pajamas. We will be enjoying the afternoon by watching two movies that were made from books and recent picks from book club members.To Kill A Mocking Bird(our November pick) and Christmas With The Kranks (Skipping Christmas - our Christmas Book for 2010) We will be enjoying a pitch in with holiday food(s) and drink. We are also going to have a book exchange.Everyone goes home with a new book...Aww, we just love to give and receive the written word."

Carolyn, Carolyn's Cronies, Rushville, IN

"I am planning a holiday party for our group at my house.This year I have decided to ask the spouses to attend.In the past we have come in our pjs and watched classic holiday movies, had afternoon luncheons, and even skipped December as a reading group month.Our book for December is Retrovirus by Tracy Higley. She has promised to join us if her schedule allows."

Penny, The Bookworms, Levittown, PA

"After reading Ishmael Beah's book, A Long Way Gone, our group decided to contribute the money we would spend on exchanging gifts with one another to an elementary school in Sierra Leone.We are sending money to the Kenema Blango School which needs funds to complete its classrooms."

How about this for a great book group gift idea? Order a copy of Reading Group Choices 2011 for everyone in your group, and save $4.00 per copy off the single copy price! Now through December 15th, if you order 8 or more copies, you can get them for only $2.95 each. Order online and choose the stocking stuffer special. "Mix and match" with previous editions, if you like.